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Training camp is first for many players, so growing pains expected
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Monday, Oct 13, 2008
INDEPENDENCE: The frustration in Coach Mike Brown's voice was noticeable when he spoke about the Cavaliers' lack of defensive intensity after the their loss to the Boston Celtics Friday night.
The Cavaliers came out firing in the first quarter. With much of the first team on the court, the Cavs scored 37 points but they gave up 28, an unacceptable number to Brown.
''We scored a lot of points, but I didn't see a lot of intensity on the defensive end of the floor,'' he said. ''I'm sure they probably feel the same way.''
Preaching defense is nothing new for Brown. His philosophy is built around it. Offense has been a concern because the Cavs often look as if they're waiting for LeBron James to do something. But with the arrival of Mo Williams, Brown doesn't appear to believe scoring will be a problem.
Instead, Brown believes there is more reason for the Cavs to concentrate on defense. The first two preseason games have only reinforced that fact.
''Watching the team, we're going to have the ability to score — I don't even have to call a play and these guys can go pick-up basketball if they want to,'' he said. ''As talented as they are offensively, we should score some points. Getting stops? That takes effort. You've got to want to be able to do that. You have to want to do that for every possession for 24 seconds. That's something we have to get ingrained.''
Against the Toronto Raptors, the Cavaliers gave up 26 points in the paint. The Celtics consistently beat the Cavs off the dribble and scored 32 points in the paint.
Brown is willing to cut his team some slack in one respect.
''When I look out on the floor, there are three guys here who were at training camp last year, so no one else has experience at what we do in
training camp,'' he said.
That doesn't excuse the defensive lapses. Brown still has had to stress defense significantly more than he'd like.
''Most of these guys have never been through a training camp, so they've got to understand — we want to have the freedom to do some things offensively,'' he said. ''But, having said that, we've got to understand who we are. If we expect to win, we have to get back defensively. It starts in practice. This may be something new to some guys.''
Brown is blunt about what he expects.
''I've got a nice group of guys. They're working pretty hard, but at times, I have guys, and this doesn't exclude anybody, who will take a play off and we don't take plays off,'' he said. ''And sooner or later, guys will understand that we don't take plays off and they'll get that understanding because they'll be sitting next to me.''
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/sportsblitz/.
INDEPENDENCE: The frustration in Coach Mike Brown's voice was noticeable when he spoke about the Cavaliers' lack of defensive intensity after the their loss to the Boston Celtics Friday night.
Get the full article here.
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Posted 10:17 AM, 10/13/2008
They may have a better point guard, but it's going to be more of the same ugly. Offensive snooze alert!!!! Stab me in the eyes!!! Bring on the pain!!!
